Black People : WHAT DOES A WHITEMAN CALL A BLACKMAN WITH A Phd.

[oldiesman]

this very potent question raised by malcolm more than forty years ago once again come into focus my people,as you know obama was in saudi arabia and recieved from king abdullah the country's highest honor-king abdul aziz order of merit,which is a gold chain with medallions and of course obama wore it long enough for photos to be taken,well all of a sudden the good ld american press is comparing this country's medallion to something that flava flav would wear[which is an insult of racial porportions in itself]and saying that the president although well intentioned should not have worn the medallion[give me a break]the medallion was placed there by the king himself i believe and for obama to refused to wear it would have been an insult and the white american press knows this how many time have presidents been given objects by leaders of other countries and worn them for the press it's part of diplomacy but not if the president happens to be black and the gift from a muslim country...any thoughts on this?

 

[Blue Print]

this very potent question raised by malcolm more than forty years ago once again come into focus my people,as you know obama was in saudi arabia and recieved from king abdullah the country's highest honor-king abdul aziz order of merit,which is a gold chain with medallions and of course obama wore it long enough for photos to be taken,well all of a sudden the good ld american press is comparing this country's medallion to something that flava flav would wear[which is an insult of racial porportions in itself]and saying that the president although well intentioned should not have worn the medallion[give me a break]the medallion was placed there by the king himself i believe and for obama to refused to wear it would have been an insult and the white american press knows this how many time have presidents been given objects by leaders of other countries and worn them for the press it's part of diplomacy but not if the president happens to be black and the gift from a muslim country...any thoughts on this?

Can you provide the link or quote from the American press that made negative comments towards President Obama's wearing the gold chain? Some of the American press love President Obama while certain members of the press wouldn't have anything good to say about him if he cured world hunger and brought about world peace.

 

[cherryblossom]

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Here's Your Gift, Mr. President. Please Stick Your Neck Out.
By Robin Givhan


Really, you shouldn't have: President Obama takes off the gold chain given to him by Saudi King Abdullah. (By Gerald Herbert -- Associated Press

Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, President Obama was greeted by King Abdullah in an elaborate welcome ceremony that included a gift-giving segment.

The Saudi king presented the president with a necklace.

As an aide to the king approached the president with the jewelry, Obama said, "Goodness gracious. That's something there."

Indeed it was.

The Associated Press described it as the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit and called it the country's highest honor. But one of the rules in politics is never be photographed wearing hats, costumes or a national dress other than one's own. The resulting photographs are easy fodder for any would-be comedian, and they also don't do much to help one's swagger. Added to that list of things-not-to-wear should be large gold necklaces adorned with medallions the size of an espresso saucer.

King Abdullah's sentiment might have been lovely and the generosity earnest, but to Western eyes, the theatrically large necklace called to mind something that would have been favored by a rap star. The medallion hung from a series of gold links that honest to goodness looked just like a dookie chain. It could have been something championed by the aesthetically challenged Flavor Flav, and who would have thought his name could ever be mentioned in the same paragraph as Obama's?

No Westerner would have been able to pull off this much gilded symbolism, Obama included. A man who likes his suits sober and his slacks with conservative pleats can't get away with that much gold draped around his neck....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/04/AR2009060404809.html

 

[mizjoice]

Seems like a double standard to me:

I've seen those same medallions on European noblity (usally accompanied by a sash of some sort) with nary a comment. For pete's sake, it was a gift!!
Depending upon the worth of the thing, he probably won't get to keep it--if he were so inclined, which I tend to believe he is not.

It probably would have been viewed as a snub if he had not wore it, even momentarily.

In terms of respect, it it very much different as a non-islamic woman who covers her head in an Islamic country? Or am I way off point?

 

[cherryblossom]

"...And what do folks know about big, glittery pieces of men's jewelry worn with business suits? They're the terrain of rappers. (See Jay-Z or the occasional goodfella.)

There's also the added impact of race. While an ethnically diverse group of men wear flashy jewelry, popular culture associates it with young black men who have made themselves wealthy rapping their way through the entertainment world. The dots from leader of the free world to rapper were connected faster with Obama. Still, the image of pretty much any other head of state draped in such a massive necklace would have led the mind to the same conclusion: MC President. MC Prime Minister. MC Chancellor.

The problem with diplomatic gift-giving is that it has nothing to do with the recipient and everything to do with the giver. That contrasts sharply with the world of regular people, in which most gifting begins with a few simple questions: What would make the recipients happy? What might they need? What would hold symbolic value for them?..."


I really don't like the seeming tone of this article. The author seems to be straddling the fence.

President Obama is ridiculed for the necklace which was clearly a gift from a Head Of State and etiquette dictates that he accept it and even don it, at least for a moment.

But, I'm not buying the equal ground argument. I can't even imagine that if Gordon Brown were photographed with the same necklace would have been likened unto Flava Flav, Vanilla Ice or Eminem.